Move to new city hall expected next month

Westland City Hall is likely to move into its new home at the end of September.

“We will probably move the weekend of Sept. 25. It’s a major move. Some departments will start moving earlier,” Westland Mayor William Wild said.

An official grand opening of the building, located on Warren Road in the former Circuit City store, hasn’t been scheduled yet.

“We’ll get in there for awhile and probably schedule the grand opening in October,” Wild said.

IT staff has already been working in the new building for several weeks, getting prepared for the move.

Energy efficient

The renovated former store will provide the city with 64,000 square feet — all on one level — and has been designed for energy efficiency. The current building on Ford at Carlson has only 13,000 square feet of space, including the basement, which is unusable due to persistent flooding and resulting mold.

The building will provide public meeting rooms in addition to space for city departments currently off-site, such as the Department of Public Works administration, WLND, Economic Development and Youth Assistance.

The retrofitting project, including land acquisition, is expected to cost just under $10 million. That’s about $5 million less than a new construction project would have cost.

TIFA funding

The city’s Tax Increment Finance Authority is funding the project, as well as a nearby new Fire Station 1 currently under construction on Central City Parkway at the north end of the former Service Merchandise property.

Another major project, the new Farmers and Artisans Market Pavilion and improvements to Tattan Park, had a grand opening last month.

Once vacated, the former city hall, fire station and the closed Bailey Recreation Center will be demolished. Future plans for the city property haven’t been decided as consultant McKenna Associates studies options.